A bid to relax the law on home abortions has been rejected by the High Court.

The British Pregnancy Advisory Service (BPAS) argued that advances in medical science meant the law should now allow the second dose of tablets for an early medical abortion (EMA) to be self-administered at home.

Health Secretary Andrew Lansley opposed the move.

His lawyers argued that the 1967 Abortion Act still required women to take both first and second doses under supervision in a hospital or other medical premises.

Mr Justice Supperstone, sitting at the High Court in London, ruled in favour of the Health Secretary and dismissed the BPAS's case.

BPAS lawyers said women suffered unnecessary anxiety about miscarrying on the way home from the clinic after the second round of tablets, especially if they had to travel long distances and/or use public transport.

The judge had to decide on the meaning of the words "any treatment for the termination of pregnancy" under Section 1(3) of the Abortion Act, and whether they covered both the prescription and the administration of the drugs used in abortion.

The judge upheld the Government's interpretation that the administration of both sets of abortion tablets amounted to "treatment" which must be carried out by a "registered medical practitioner" on premises approved under the Abortion Act.

He said the section was "consistent" with the Health Secretary's submissions as to the meaning of the concept of "treatment".

Later the BPAS said it was "disappointed" that its interpretation of the Abortion Act was "not deemed viable".